I suppose this disc
comes, strictly speaking, into the "special
interest" category. But to restrict
it to bassoon-nuts or Baroque anoraks
would be a sad mistake, for this is,
in its way, a quite extraordinary recording.

The music first: Joseph
Bodin de Boismortier (crazy name, crazy
guy) was a hugely successful and, eventually,
wealthy Parisian composer from the first
half of the 18th century. The works
enshrined on this disc were dedicated
to a distinguished cellist of the day,
Labbé; but Boismortier definitely
intended that many of his pieces could
be performed on several different instruments
(thereby no doubt enhancing potential
sales!). There’s no doubt that, as bassoonist
Mathieu Lussier points out in his note
on the composer, these sonatas suit
the character of the bassoon perfectly.
Despite their modesty, they comprise
perfectly formed movements in many different
rhythms, tempi and styles, making for
delightful listening.

The performances are
stunning. Lussier, though an undemonstrative
player, performs some almost unbelievable
stunts, nonchalantly pulling off lengthy
passages of rapid fingering and/or tonguing
that require the very heights of virtuosity.
He is joined by Nadina Mackie Jackson,
a player of comparable quality, and
possessed of a particularly beautiful
singing tone. These two carol together
in the most utterly beguiling way.

A sequence of works
like this could easily become monotonous
– that danger would exist if these were
trio sonatas for strings, or whatever
else. However, Musica Franca avoid that
by varying the ensemble subtly; the
addition of a contrabassoon here, a
theorbo (bass lute) there, sometimes
organ, sometimes harpsichord, so that
the ear is caressed rather than bored.

The standard of intonation
is uncannily good, resulting in many
really gorgeous textures. And last but
not least, these bassoonists have taken
the trouble to silence their key-work,
so that we are mercifully spared the
clanking and slapping sounds that too
often accompany bassoon recordings.

I urge you to try this
– delightful music played with consummate
skill, and recorded to perfection.

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